Padded clavicle splint



Aug. 29, 1967 J, MCLEOD, JR 3,338,236

PADDED GLAVICLE SPL-INT Filed July 6, 1964 INV E NTOR ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent Ofi ce 3,338,235 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 3,338,236 PADDEDCLAVICLE SPLINT John J. McLeod, Jr., 217 27th Ave. S., Grand Forks, N.Dak. 58201 Filed July 6, 1964, Ser. No. 380,265 1 Claim. (Cl. 12S-87)This invention relates to orthopedic devices used to brace the upperbody during healing following the fr-acture of the clavicle bone.

The clavicle is the bone at the upper front part of the shoulder joiningthe breastbone and shoulder blade. It is commonly called the-collarbone. A fracture of this bone allows the shoulder to dropdownward, forward and inwardly, This in turn may cause an overlap of thebone portions. After the shoulder is raised toward its original positionand the bone is properly set or immobilized for protection, the fracturewill usually mend in between two to eight weeks.

For many years various devices have been used to accomplish this purposeof setting and holding the bone in place. Such devices are illustratedin United States Patents Nos. 1,585,341, 1,755,641, 1,880,946, 1,917,106and 2,450,298.

None of the above devices possesses the unique features and attributesof the present invention. The present invention comprises a unitarypreassembled clavicle splint which is adaptable to fit many dilferentsizes. Through combination of the proper materials it forms adequatebracing using far less material and causing less discomfort to thepatient than prior devices.

The invention further performs necessary functions which the less bulkyprior art devices are unable to d0. It provides elevation of shoulder,provides lateral traction and greater comfort due to its force beingapplied evenly over a larger area.

These features are illustrated in the accompanying drawmgs:

FIGURE 1 is a rear view of the splint on a patient;

FIGURE 2 is a front view of the splint on the same patient;

FIGURE 3 is a rear view of a modified form of the splint necessary forthe larger size patients;

FIGURE 4 shows the three elements comprising the splint; while FIGURE 5shows the elements in cross-section.

The frame of the splint is two web straps 10, 11 which are crossed overand sewn together at their crossover point 12 near their ends. These webstraps when assembled form a ligure-eight brace running over theshoulders and under the axillae. The ends of the straps 10, 11 near thecross-over point 12 contain buckles 13, 14 to which are attached theopposite end of the strap. Attached to the under side of the strap is apiece of orthopedic felt 15 surrounded by a stockinet 16. The threeelements are firmly attached by threads 17 passing entirely through thestockinet web Iand strap. The felt is at least 1A inch thick and betweenone and two and threefourths inches in width. It is lof suicient lengthto cover from behind and on top of the shoulder down the front of theshoulder and under the arm.

The splint forms a substantial bulk as it passes under the axilla atpoint 18. When the arm of the patient is lowered, this bulk will thenact as a fulcrum pulling the top of the shoulder out and tending to holdthe clavicle in the proper position.

As seen in FIGURE 1, the figure eight design of the splint also tends tohold the two shoulders at the same level. It therefore tends t0 raisethe injured shoulder to its original level, not merely to pull it backat its lowered level as other splints do.

For the larger size patients a modied form is necessary. This isindicated in FIGURE 3 where the buckles do not attach to an end of thestrap but are attached to the lower end of a vertical base strap 19while the main straps 10 and 11 are attached to the upper end of thisvertical strap.

The combination of the bulky orthopedic felt 15 and the rugged webbedstraps 10 and 11 further insure that an adequate force can be maintainedon the injured limb without either undue discomfort or loss of rigiditydue to the cloth straps stretching.

Having described my invention, I claim:

In a clavicle splint the combination comprising (a) a non-elasticvertical base strap,

(b) two non-elastic shoulder straps of textile material joined to eachother at one end of each and both these joined to the upper end of thevertical base strap,

(c) said shoulder straps each disposed at an acute equal angle to eitherside of the vertical,

(d) two buckles at the lower end of the vertical base strap forconnection with the free ends of the shoulder-straps,

(e) a felt pad attached to each shoulder strap,

(f) said felt pad enclosed within a stockinet,

(g) said attachment of the felt pads, stockinets and shoulder strapsbeing by stitching running the length of the pads,

(h) said felt pads being of a length suicient to pass over the nape lofthe neck of the wearer past the clavicular region and through the aXillato the back,

(i) said felt pad being of width and thickness sucient to supply therequired force to the shoulder without excessive pressure and ofsuicient bulk through the axilla to form a fulcrum to supply lateraltraction on the Louter end of the clavicle when the arm is lowered alongthe side.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 84,787 12/ 1868 Adamson 2-45370,055 9/ 1887 Haley 2-45 3,141,456 7/1964 Meek 12S-87 3,189,026 6/1965 Barnett 12S-75 FOREIGN PATENTS 840,015 1/ 1939 France.

OTHER REFERENCES Zimmer Strap Clavical Splint, Zimmer Mfg. Co. Catalog,1953, p. 505.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

I. W. HINEY, Assistant Examiner.

